Our family was driving home from Holiday world yesterday when we saw a chicken sitting on the side of the road! As we drove along looking for a place to turn around, we saw eight more chickens along the road, all dead. She appears to be young and she's VERY heavy so I assume she and the other chickens were bound for slaughter. She is injured but we are hopeful that she will pull through. Her wounds have been cleaned, and she doesn't have any broken bones, which is kind of a miracle. I mean she was thrown from a truck going anywhere from 60-70 mph!!
I am super angry to think that this kind of treatment is routine! Grrrrrr...
But, I don't want this to be a negative post. Please wish us well! I hope she will recover quickly, and hopefully I can give you all a happy update in the future.
PS Her name is Thunder Chicken
Thank you for saving her! I hope "Thunder Chicken)" pulls through and has a happy, full life with you. I would keep cleaning those wounds 2X a day until they get a good, solid scab on them. Hydrogen peroxide is safe for use on wounds on birds, and if they are bleeding, you can get quick-stop powder at any pet store to stop it. E-collars can be used on birds to stop them picking at wounds (if that becomes a problem). If at all possible, keep her indoors, preferably in a large dog crate lined with a pee pad (for easy cleaning) and fresh food+water. Just for her time healing before she is healthy enough to move outside so her movement is restricted so she is forced to rest and heal up. Make sure she is getting adequate nutrition and hydration right now too. She is probably very traumatized so if you notice she isn't eating or drinking sufficiently, don't feel bad if you need to resort to (oral) syringe-feeding. Birds can be very tough when it comes to recovering from physical (and mental!) trauma. They are intelligent beings, and I am sure your new friend will come to trust you and be forever grateful you saved her. Animals UNDERSTAND these things. And just wait until she is well enough to live outdoors, in the sun and have the freedom to run around for the first time in her life! That will be a very special moment.
That is the absolute best name for a chicken OF ALL TIME!
Something you may already know, but it's good to let chickens eat their own eggs. We used to crush their shells into their food on the farm, it gave them back the nutrients (or something like that).
I'm glad Thunder Chicken found you! I hope she does well.
To me its not about one chicken, its about one precious life saved. You have my respect, please make sure it lives a peaceful life henceforth. Much gratitude for what you did, and hope you continue to do much more.
Thank you everyone for your support, but I have a sad update. Thunder Chicken didn't make it. She laid down to sleep last night and passed away. I think her wounds were just too severe.
I'm sorry I don't have a better picture of her...
She is going to be buried today. She deserved so much better.
And as a side note, I tracked down the company responsible. Thanks Tyson.
"To me its not about one chicken, its about one precious life saved. You have my respect, please make sure it lives a peaceful life henceforth. Much gratitude for what you did, and hope you continue to do much more."
Thanks Varun, we are trying. Right now I have 12 rescued hens, 9 from someone who was going to turn them loose because he didn't want them anymore and 3 from a neighbor who had bought 6 for his children to play with (he thought his kids would kill them all and had no plan keep the survivors).
We give the eggs away to coworkers in the hopes that they will come to us for eggs instead of buying factory farmed eggs.
"Is there any way to file a complaint? Does anyone know what to do? How to reach out"
I was wondering this too. On backyardchickens.com several people have rescued chickens that have fallen off trucks, and from what I saw most of them were also Tyson chickens. A poster on byc said that Tyson uses old beat up cages to transport their chickens. :/
Thanks for trying, @porcelainowl. Your efforts were not wasted. Thunder Chicken knew at least a day of compassion in her life. You made a difference. So sorry for your loss.
We found her on a stretch of Interstate 64 (east bound) close to the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana.
We think she, and the eight others who died on the road, were bound for Tyson Foods in Corydon, IN.
Thank you!!! <3
Goodnight, sweet Thunder Chicken. :'(
At least miss TC was able to spend her last moments with someone who actually cared. I happy to hear you have other rescues. We need more people like you in the world. <3
One day when I am no longer living in a tiny apartment I'd like to have some rescues too.
I'm so sorry Thunder Chicken didn't make it! At least she was able to experience love and care and kindness from you in her last moments.
Best wishes in filing a complaint! I once complained to a chicken/turkey company (Gold'n Plump) when I witnessed thousands of their so called free range "natural" turkeys running around on top of each other crammed in one of their warehouses (the cooling system that day was not working and they had the side door to their otherwise windowless rowhouse open with a cage/mesh wire accross it so I was able to see in). I was given the runaround and nothing ever came of it.
You could try contacting United Poultry Concerns, an activist group specifically for chickens, and see if they can help in any way. I'm willing to bet they have experience in how to handle situations like this.
Oh my gosh you guys, thank you! Reading all of your replies has made me feel better, and cry (but in a good way). I hope she did feel loved if even for just a little bit.
I wish I could figure out how to work my quote thingy on my phone,but since I'm inept, I just want to say that I really grateful for those of you doing rescue/volunteer work regularly. I've just taken things as they've come but you have purposefully sought it out and I really admire you <3
I'm very sorry to hear about Thunder Chicken. Prayers for you and your family, and T.C. and you did a lot more for Thunder Chicken then the other 99% of the population (which would be people like us)
But I'm so glad there's people like you in the world.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
VeggieBoards
3.4M posts
73.3K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to vegetarian, vegans, and vegetable enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about agriculture, preparation, cooking, recipes, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!